The first year that Legendary worked this event, charities already had requested 1,324 Christmas toys for needy children before ball night arrived; they were scheduled to pick up their allotments the morning after the Margarita Ball. The ball director was nervous that there might not be enough attendees arriving with toys in hand to allow all requests to be filled that weekend. But the morning after the ball, when the donated toys were sorted and packed for charity pickup, there were exactly 1, 324 toys ... not one more and not one less. Coincidence? We don't think so.

The annual Margarita Charity Ball benefiting Children's Charities of Fort Worth donates more than $55,000 worth of holiday toys for needy children annually. Working on the formal gala, students involved in Legendary Weddings & Special Events™—the lab operation of Tarleton's Public Relations & Event Management (PREM) program—gain first-hand knowledge and experience in fundraising and major-event coordination. Students in the senior-level Event Planning & Management class are joined by PREM students from lower-division classes to help make the ball an annual success.

The day of the Margarita Ball, PREM students assist with event decor and also inspect, clean, and organize silent-auction items, then arrange the auction's display tables. Representatives of Legendary return for the evening's events in formal attire, ready to work the admission booth, coat check, the silent auction, and auction checkout—and to network and experience the charity benefit's overall operation. The next morning, they return to work post-ball breakdown, post-auction sales, and toy sorting for distribution to needy children in the region.

The first year that Legendary worked this event, charities already had requested 1,324 Christmas toys for needy children before ball night arrived; they were scheduled to pick up their allotments the morning after the Margarita Ball. The ball director was nervous that there might not be enough attendees arriving with toys in hand to allow all requests to be filled that weekend. But the morning after the ball, when the donated toys were sorted and packed for charity pickup, there were exactly 1, 324 toys ... not one more and not one less. Coincidence? We don't think so.

When PREM students started working with Children's Charities of Fort Worth in 2009, the Margarita Ball's silent-auction generated 25% more profit than was garnered by the gala in previous years. In 2010, the auction proceeds doubled the previous year's total. In 2011 Legendary took over the morning-after sale of auction items and that was the first year that every single auction item sold.

It has become a tradition for PREM alumni to continue attending, and working, the Margarita Ball after they graduate.

Gala Photo Gallery

Christmas tree and toys gathered around Santa's throne, awaiting Kris Kringle and photographers to capture ball-goers making their holiday wishes known to him.

PREM students help organize silent-auction displays designed to lure bidders.